This week’s topics is about knowing how to response in an emergency situations. The first step is making the decision to help. You cannot be forced to help someone, but hopefully you would. Follow these guidelines.

Don’t become a second victim. Assess the situation carefully, make sure it is safe to approach the scene.

Look for the source of the injury (falling objects, chemical, vehicle, electrical, etc)

Wear medical exam gloves from first aid kit if blood or body fluids are anticipated. Regular work gloves will not provide proper protection.

You are protected by the Good Samaritan Law if you stay within your training.

If worker is conscious, ask if you can help them. If they refuse, call 911 and do not touch them.

If unconscious, you are protected by implied consent and may treat them.

Assist with first aid, and have trained individuals assist you or take over. Ask others to help you.

Notify the supervisor on site immediately. They will notify safety and coordinate the scene.

EMS/911 cannot determine your location by your cell phone, you must give them your address. Only landlines are traceable to your location. They are not allowed to triangulate your location by cell phone tower, they need a subpoena to do that.

Ask workers how they would describe the entrance to the job. Do they know the address or nearest intersection. Go over this with the crew.

If you are on a military base, call 911 and tell them which base you are on, they will forward your call to the base fire station. You may also need to contact base security to let the ambulance through.

Call EMS 911 if the victim is or was unconscious, severely burned, has obvious trauma or broken bones, excessive bleeding, chest pain, seizures or if you think it requires EMS. Never try to transport them yourself.

For lesser injuries, workers may be driven to the clinic. Under no circumstances can a worker drive themselves, or have a spouse or friend pick them up. Call the safety office first.

Stay within your first aid training. Don’t try to reduce a dislocation, stitch wounds or perform some fancy procedure that you’ve seen on TV. You won’t be protected by the Good Samaritan law.

Have workers wait at the main entrance to lead the responders to the scene, and back to the gate from the scene. They could get lost onsite and waste valuable time.

Clean up any areas contaminated with blood. Contact safety for guidance.

Document accident area with photographs from a safe location.

Do all workers know who is first aid/CPR trained on the jobsite? Do they know the location of first aid kits? Eyewash?